Senior safety Deone Bucannon held a press conference Thursday night before the men’s basketball game in Beasley Coliseum to address the media about the approaching 2014 NFL Draft.

The press conference occurred the same night he was presented with the 2013 CFPA Elite Defensive Back Trophy. Bucannon spoke about what this draft means to him.

“It’s just something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid,” Bucannon said. “For it to actually be happening, going into motion, and having an opportunity to be able to play in different games, to be able to meet different people, especially great players and things like that, to go through this whole process, I just feel truly blessed.”

Bucannon said he has talked with all of the NFL teams, but none have given him any concrete indication they are interested in him because the process is still in its early stages.

“Everybody wants to go as high as they can, but like I said, this has been a dream of mine,” Bucannon said. “The fact that I even have an opportunity to get drafted is crazy to me. I still haven’t even fully accepted it now.” 

The same draft that Bucannon used to watch on TV when he was younger has now become a reality for him. He said he plans to watch the draft this year with his family to see where he gets picked, but no matter how long he has to wait to hear his name called, he will remain thankful for the chance to be in the position he holds now. 

“It doesn’t matter where I get picked, even if it’s the last pick,” Bucannon said. “I’m just happy that I got an opportunity to be on the field because I feel like what really matters is what you do after you get selected, or after you get picked through free agency, or if you’re an undrafted person. I feel that’s what really matters.”